...Theory Assignment Baruch Spinoza once said, “The highest activity a human can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free”. Spinoza quoting that understanding leads to freedom – emancipation – can be interpreted as a statement from the perspective of a critical theorist (Green 2004) and if left unchallenged this statement would prove absolute. However, using a modernist perspective it can be argued that understanding would lead to quantification (Hatch, 2006) that could in turn, lead to greater efficiency. Solely from referencing the two theories above and the 2 ways of looking at a single statement we can ascertain that a combination of perspectives gives us a greater understanding than a single perspective. This essay explores how using a multi perspective approach would provide the individual with a more comprehensive and well ronded understanding to organisations, an increased capacity to understand how to better embrace structure and its implications and the holistic simplification and explaination of cultural effects. It also brings to light the conflicting nature of these theories and its inherant biasness. The first advantage of using a multi-perspective approach to understanding an organisation would be that it provides us with a more comprehensive and well-rounded understanding to organisations. This greater understanding begins with the internalisation of the different perspective’s ontology and epistemology, which are the...
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...(MHRM - 6645 - 3) Walden University Trenesa Smith MHRM- 6645-3 March 29, 2015 Professor: George Stieber & Wanda Gravett Abstract This paper identifies the advantages and disadvantages of the 360-degree assessments in succession plans. 360 –degree assessments is comprehensive performance evaluation tool that allows multi-raters, peer groups, co-workers, supervisors to provide feedback regarding an employee’s performance. This information is typically requested by a next level supervisor or manager of whom the employee reports to. 360 reviews emphases on the skills and contribution that an employee makes. The goal is to provide a balance of how others view the employee’s contribution, which includes performance, leadership, interpersonal communication, teamwork and management skill, personal vision and accountability (Heathfield). We will determine if it’s beneficial for Bank of America to use the 360- degree assessments based on this week’s findings. Analyzing 360-Degree Assessments There are many positive aspects to 360-degree assessment feedback such as improved feedback from more sources, promotes team development, it helps teams work more effectively together. 360-degree assessments also promote improved customer service. 360 degree feedback has been known to be one of the best methods for understanding personal and organizational development needs. Furthermore, various employees feel 360 degree feedback is more accurate, more reflective of their performance, and...
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...What, Why, When, Where: A Case Study Abbott Liberty University There are many questions that are asked about the nature of case studies. The next few paragraphs will address some of the common questions regarding case studies and provide basic answers. The answers are not by any means inclusive or exhaustive. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general understanding of a few questions concerning case studies. What: Case Study A case study is an approach to research that focuses on gaining an in-depth understanding of a particular entity or event at a specific time. To unpack this a little further we can go on to say that any and every detail of the subject’s life is investigated. There are the case studies that will simply observe the subject’s current environment and behavior or the researcher may reconstruct the subject’s complete history. Either way, “Case studies allow a researcher to investigate a topic in far more detail than might be possible if they were trying to deal with a large number of research participants (nomothetic approach) with the aim of ‘averaging’” [ (McLeod, 2008) ]. The main idea of a case study methodology is to “explore individuals or organizations, simple through complex interventions, relationships, communities, or programs” [ (Baxter & Jack, 2008, p. 544) ] to promote a greater understanding of various phenomenons. There are several types of cases: explanatory, exploratory, descriptive, intrinsic, collective, and instrumental...
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...Semester Project: What does it mean to be an Operations Manager in The International Environment Fedorenko Danil 21.02.2013 Introduction Many of the techniques used in Operations Management are essential for the international business consultant. These tools allow consultants to advise companies on selecting the best locations for their facilities, determining the most efficient balance of employees to comprise their global workforce, customizing products to satisfy specific local needs, maximizing the efficiency of the global supply chain, and determining the necessary capacity of local operations. In order to use these tools in a multinational context the operations manager must have a solid grasp on global issues. He or she must be familiar with the firm's overall international strategy and the reasoning that went into developing it. He or she must be must familiar with the critical success factors involved in selecting site locations, the process by which an international corporate strategy is formed, and the changes in the organization that will need to take place in order to implement it. Without a grasp of these concepts the operations manager will not be able to use the tools of operations management to help his or her firm establish a presence in new markets. How OM Techniques can help International Consultants to become better Managers The operations aspect of international consulting should start with a SWOT analysis, an examination of Strengths, Weaknesses...
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...Review for OB Chapter 1 1.Define Organizational Behaviour (OB) • the study of what people feel think and do in and around organizations • organizations: groups that work interdependantly towards a purpose. • must have structure 2.Explain the foundations of OB theory and knowledge and its research methods • OB is multidisciplinary relates to psychology, sociology, anythropology etc • Three units of analysis: individual, group, orginization • Research Methods : • field studies : real life organizations • case studies : in depth studies of situations • laboratory studies : in controlled environments • survey studies : questionnaires and interviews • meta-analysis : statistics 3.Describe the “systems approach”, the “contingency approach”, and the levels of analysis in understanding behaviour in organizations • Systems approach : • organizations depend upon the external environment • transform inputs into outputs efficiently and effectively • subsystems --> transformation process--> feedback • Contingency approach : OB involves complex relationships, it does not have right or wrong answers just makes hypotheses and uses consistencies to predict behaviour • Levels of Analysis • individual • task performance : goal directed behavior • organizational citizenship : helpfulness above job requirements • counterproductive work behaviours: potentially harms the...
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...Entrepreneurship or Social Entrepreneurship: Descriptive Study On the Perspective of De La Salle University Entrepreneurship Students Paul Lorenz T. Chua & Jose Angelo L. Calma Students, Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University March 27, 2014 Abstract Entrepreneurs have been around 1723 since then, they have been innovating, making new enterprises, and creating new job opportunities. The profession of entrepreneurs focuses more on the mainstream management approach, which revolves around materialism. On the other hand, a different kind of entrepreneurship started around 1960s and it is social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship does not focus on the mainstream management approach, but focuses on the multi-stream management theory and practice. The research paper aims to find out the preference of De La Salle University (DLSU) Entrepreneurship students towards entrepreneurship or social entrepreneurship. The gathered information was conducted through a quantitative surveying of forty-two (42) DLSU Entrepreneurship students. Results showed that DLSU Entrepreneurship students are leaning more into the profession of entrepreneurship as mainly this profession has more profit and is much more viable compared to social entrepreneurship and that social entrepreneurship requires more knowledge. Keywords: entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, mainstream management, multi-stream management theory and practice, profession, profit Entrepreneurship...
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...different parts of their organizations and include comparative analyses of HRM in different countries. HRM Activities • Human Resource Planning (Ensure best fit between employees and jobs) • Staffing (Includes Employee Recruitment, Selection and Placement) • Performance Management (Ensure goals met in effective and efficient manner) • Training and Development (Bettering performance of employees in organizations) • Compensation and Benefits (Awarding employees monetarily or non for work done) • Industrial Relations (Dealing with employee relations) • 3 Dimensions of IHRM: 1. Broad human resource activities of procurement, allocation and utilization 2. National or country categories involved in international HRM activities o Host Country – Where subsidiary may be located o Home Country – Where HQs may be located o Other Country – Where labour, finance and other inputs are obtained from 3. 3 Categories of employees of an international firm o PCN – Parent Country Nationals (Nationals where HQ is located) o HCN – Host Country Nationals (Nationals where subsidiary/facility is located) o TCN – Third Country Nationals (Nationals where resources are obtained from) Difference between IHRM and HRM Activities • More HR Activities o Activities such as International Taxation, International Relocation and Orientation, Language Translation Services and Host-Government Relations. • Need for Broader Perspective o HR managers working...
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...to corporate strategy/strategic supplier selection analysis, Collaboration methods and mechanisms INTRODUCTION Organizations are operating in an environment characterized by continuous economic, social, natural and political disruptions to their sources of supplies and services/ consumers and markets. To survive in this turbulent and highly competitive market place, these organizations must continually monitor their competitive positions alongside their internally controllable functional strategies to ensure they are proactively aligned with the overall corporate strategy. To succeed therefore in this fact evolving global competitive business environment, an innovative business concept Supply Chain Management was introduced to help align the functional strategies with the overall business strategies and suppliers. During World War I and II, the success of a firm was not dependent on what it could sell, since the market was almost unlimited. Instead, the ability to obtain from suppliers the raw materials, suppliers and services needed to keep the factories and mines operating was the key determinant of organizational success. Consequently, attention was given to organization policies, strategies and procedures of the supply chain functions which resulted to activities termed logistics, souring, procurement, material management. By the open of 1970’s, organizations faced two most challenging problems: an international shortage of almost all basic raw materials needed to support...
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...COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS IN RESEARCH METHODS(1) 1. PHILOSOPHY, LOGIC AND ETHICS OF SCIENCE A) General A1. A2. A3. Starbuck has suggested that "the properties shared by all organizations ought to be uninteresting TH and unimportant." He also notes that "although statements about averages bother very few, they ought to bother many" (Journal of Management Studies, vol. 30(6), 1993). Do you agree with these statements? If so, why, and what are the implications of your beliefs for research methods in strategic management and organization science? If not, why not, and what are the implications of your beliefs for research methods in those areas? Lay out the components of the Runkel and McGrath (1972) Research Cycle and the Martin (1982) Garbage Can Model of the research process. What are the aims of either approach? What assumptions does each approach make? What basic themes does each approach emphasize? What kinds of constraints on the process of doing research does each approach highlight? How are the two approaches alike and different in other ways? What are the likely pitfalls of viewing the research process from only one of these two viewpoints? Define (and discuss important features or issues concerning) the following constructs of Philosophy and Logic of Science. (Define any four terms). 1. Null hypothesis 3. Paradigm 4. Independent variable 5. Operational definition 6. Nomological network 8. The fallacy of affirming the consequent 9. Theory 2....
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...Prepared by – Dashny Sarvaloganayagan Lecturer – W.M.S. Rambadagalla Unit code – F/601/1027 Batch No – 13 Edexcel No – GI 18931 American College of Higher Education, Kandy Contents Plagiarism Acknowledgement Introduction 1.1 Major theoretical approaches 1.2 Assess the contribution of a scientific approach to investigating workplace behaviour 1.3 Assess strength & limitations of qualitative & quantitative approaches to understand the workplace behaviour 2.1 Describe the type of individual differences which have been the subject of assessment 2.2 Assess the usefulness of psychometric instruments with particular references to reliability and validity 2.3 Make justified communications for the use of two types of measures of individual differences in making business decisions 3.1 Use the theory to explain human reactions to change 3.2 Make justified recommendations for implementing change in selected organization 3.3 Make justified communications for achieving attitude change amongst a group of stakeholders in a selected organization 4.1 Explain how culture influences performance in a selected organization 4.2 Evaluate the climate for a selected work group 4.3 Make justified recommendations for improving performance for a selected work group Conclusion References Plagiarism Clause I, Dashny Sarvaloganayagan...
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...CHAPTER 1 Understanding the Manager’s Job CHAPTER 1 QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 1. What are the four basic functions that make up the management process? How are they related to one another? The four basic functions of the management process are planning and decision making, organizing, leading and controlling. Managers utilize all of these processes to achieve the goals of their organization. 2. What are the four basic activities that make up the management process? How are they related to one another? The basic activities that make up the management process include setting goals and determining how to best achieve these goals. Once a manager has set these goals they must determine the necessary resources to carry them out. Leadership and motivation are a vital element as well as controlling the activities to meet the goals. 3. Identify several of the important skills that help managers succeed. Give an example of each. Technical skills are necessary for managers so that he or she can understand the type of work that is done in their organizations. Managers must also possess good interpersonal skills which are the ability to listen to a subordinate as well as convey ideas of the company. This skill might also be helpful in motivating individuals. Time management is also an important skill for managers. Effective managers can prioritize work load, make sure it is done in the most efficient manner as well as delegate specific duties. 4. Briefly...
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...Increasing globalization requires more interaction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds than ever before. People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are now part of a worldwide economy with competition coming from nearly every continent. For this reason, organizations need diversity to become more creative and open to change. Therefore maximizing and capitalizing on workplace diversity has become an important issue for management today. Since managing diversity remains a significant organizational challenge, managers must learn the managerial skills needed in a multicultural work environment. Supervisors and managers must be prepared to teach themselves and others within their organizations to value multicultural differences in both associates and customers so that everyone is treated with dignity. Diversity issues are now considered important and are projected to become even more important in the future due to increasing differences in the population of many countries. Companies need to focus on diversity and look for ways to become totally inclusive organizations because diversity has the potential of yielding greater productivity and competitive advantages. Managing and valuing diversity is a key component of effective people management, which can improve workplace productivity. Unmanaged diversity in the workplace might become an obstacle for achieving organizational goals. Therefore diversity can be perceived as a “double-edged sword”. 2...
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...Overview The unstable, unpredictable, and ever fluctuating economy makes a good atmosphere for organizations to reap the benefits of a program evaluation. Competitive success in the everchanging marketplace will only occur when an organization puts into place continuing program feedback and program adjustments or adaptations (McNamara, 2006). There are several program evaluation models and methods available to any organization, making the stakeholders the key decision makers of the identity of scope and type of evaluation that will lend itself toward the futures goals and vision of the organization. McDavid and Hawthorn (2006) explain that there is a need for any organization conducting a programs evaluation to generate specific material for planning, design, implementation, and assessment to obtain desired results and to solve any problems or issues. To develop an evaluation focusing on relevance, utility, and design that specifically matches the organization’s needs, the stakeholders must not only address the issues at hand. They also must select an individual or team, which is internal, external, or combination of both to makeup the goal-oriented a program evaluation team. What is a Program Evaluation Boulmetis and Dutwin (2005, p. 4) define a program evaluation as the systematic and structural process of data collection. With these an organization can discerne if and to what degree organizational goals are achieved. Evaluations efficiency, effectiveness, and influence allow...
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...interpretations are still evolving. Never the less, there is an increasing recognition that, whatever name is used, its practice is a critical part of the management of most organizations. By introducing a number of definitions and frameworks for strategy, the aim is to establish a broad appreciation of the strategic management process, recognizing in passing some of the debates that continue within the subject. Such an appreciation can then provide a solid foundation for understanding how the tools and techniques of strategic analysis, covered in the rest of this module, can contribute to the strategic management process. Your Objectives After this session and once you have read the relevant articles & extracts, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO: • Outline a number of definitions and frameworks which describe the main elements of strategy. • Recognize some of the key debates and issues within strategic management. • Understand the context in which the tools and techniques of strategic analysis can contribute to the strategic management process. B. WHAT IS STRATEGY The search for a single definition of strategy, or any of its related terms, is likely to hide more than it illuminates. Consequently, this Section explores the question “What is Strategy?” from a variety of perspectives. ν An Historical Perspective Whilst the study of strategy as a business discipline is relatively recent, the word...
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...3 I. Introduction In today’s world, a lot of organization has put much effort and focus on how to make their workforce be as much as efficient and effective as they can be. Organizations across the globe has developed structures and programs that help them get the best from their employees and in return they align such structures with their objectives and goals. Thus came the introduction of Performance Management. Organizations as a whole initiated this system of appraising and evaluating employees’ performance to gauge and measure productivity in work- related situations and operation. This work will try to seek a thorough discussion on the topic “Performance Management can be a useful tool to align company objectives and individual objectives. This results in successful operations.” A vast methodology of research has been done to find a correlation between theories and practices including examples. Literature reviews have been made in order to arrive at a definitive conclusion about the above-mentioned topic. This paper shows an in-depth analysis of the factors affecting Performance Evaluation system and likewise the underlying need for organizations to have a robust performance management system in place. The different Performance measurement systems were discussed to show the relevance of such in achieving organizational strategic goals. To further illustrate the points, data and information were derived from different...
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